Renewable Energy in Water and Wastewater Treatment Applications
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June 2003 • NREL/SR-500-30383 Renewable Energy in Water and Wastewater Treatment Applications Period of Performance: April 1, 2001 – September 1, 2001 N. Argaw National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory Operated by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle • Bechtel Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 June 2003 • NREL/SR-500-30383 Renewable Energy in Water and Wastewater Treatment Applications Period of Performance: April 1, 2001 – September 1, 2001 N. Argaw NREL Technical Monitor: L. Flowers Prepared under Subcontract No. AAM-1-31224-01 National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory Operated by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle • Bechtel Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 NOTICE This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof. Available electronically at http://www.osti.gov/bridge Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors, in paper, from: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information P.O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062 phone: 865.576.8401 fax: 865.576.5728 email: [email protected] Available for sale to the public, in paper, from: U.S. Department of Commerce National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 phone: 800.553.6847 fax: 703.605.6900 email: [email protected] online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/ordering.htm Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste Forward The availability of clean drinking water is a development issue faced by billions of people in the developing and near-developed world. Development organizations continually site the lack of access to clean water and sanitation as the leading cause of death amongst children in rural areas. The scale of this problem is immense, as are its solutions. The global nature of this issue opens the door for the application of communal solutions, as was demonstrated by the discussions surrounding the Johannesburg global climate meeting where water issues were a key concern that all nations could come together to support. Like energy, the need for clean water is increasing rapidly as supplies of traditional resources continue to diminish due to overuse, waste, and pollution. Unlike energy, the ability to harness local resources to produce water is not possible. However, we do have the capability to use local energy resources to gain access to water supplies that would otherwise be unavailable and then ensure that this water is safe for human consumption. Most water is located underground in deep aquifers, in surface lakes, rivers, and streams or in the ocean. Technologies exist to make use of all of these water sources but in many cases, the absence of available, inexpensive energy makes their use expensive, time consuming, and potentially dangerous. The proper application of any number of energy options available today can make gaining access to this water a reality in many areas not previously considered. This report, one of three written by the author, provides insight into providing water to people in rural areas. By considering all aspects of water systems from assessing availability, accessibility, treatment, supply systems, and post use treatment, this document provides insight into all aspects of the water system. The document also discusses a variety of energy sources available to rural and remote areas to provide power for any proposed water systems. The report is unique as it provides a very evenhanded approach to the selection of different technologies and power choices. The purpose of this document is to provide insight into the different options that are available and methods to understand which technology may be the best for specific needs, conditions, and locations. We also hope to dispel some of the misconceptions about appropriate or inappropriate technologies through the publication of this document. Because the access to clean water is such a large and encompassing issue, all solutions have their place. The difficulty is determining which technologies are most appropriate for each user’s specific need. This book is one in a series of guidebooks that NREL produced, with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, to couple commercial renewable energy systems with rural applications, including other water issues, rural schools, health posts, and micro-enterprise. Other water related publications in this series describe the technical aspects of water pumping technology and provide insight to issues of water treatment, specifically purification, desalination, and wastewater treatment. E. Ian Baring-Gould International Programs National Renewable Energy Laboratory iii Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction..............................................................................................................1 Background..........................................................................................................................1 Purpose of This Book...........................................................................................................1 Chapter 2: Water Resources and Water Quality........................................................................3 Water Resources ..................................................................................................................3 Raw Water Quality ..............................................................................................................5 Water Storage.......................................................................................................................6 Chapter 3: Energy Sources for Water-Supply Technologies.....................................................8 Diesel, Gasoline, and Kerosene Pumps ...............................................................................8 Diesel Engines ...........................................................................................................................9 Gasoline/Kerosene Engines .....................................................................................................10 Grid-Connected Electric Pumps ........................................................................................10 Wind Pumps.......................................................................................................................11 Mechanical Wind Pumps (Windmills).....................................................................................11 Electrical Wind Pumps ............................................................................................................12 Solar (Photovoltaic) Pumps ...............................................................................................13 Bio-fuel Pumps ..................................................................................................................14 Chapter 4: Rural Water Supply Technologies .........................................................................16 Open Wells and Hand Pumps ............................................................................................17 Gravity-Flow Water Supply Systems ................................................................................17 Motorized Water Supply Systems .....................................................................................18 Other Water Supply Systems.............................................................................................19 Water Treatment in Rural Areas of Developing Countries ...............................................20 Chapter 5: Water Purification Technologies............................................................................22 Traditional Water Treatment Methods...............................................................................22 Traditional Groundwater Treatment ........................................................................................22 Household filtration .................................................................................................................22 Slow Sand Filtration ................................................................................................................23 Conventional Surface Water Treatment...................................................................................24 Other Water Treatment Options.........................................................................................26 Desalination .............................................................................................................................26 Reverse Osmosis ..................................................................................................27